ideon Harte stood in the lobby of the Dorchester Hotel waiting for Evan. Glancing at the clock above the revolving door, he saw that it was ten minutes to one, and he knew that she would come rushing in at any moment. Evan was punctual. It was another characteristic they had in common, and it was one which pleased him.

He wished they were having lunch alone. The idea of meeting her parents had suddenly lost its appeal, perhaps because it had assumed such enormous proportions in the past few days. In fact, he wished they hadn’t come to London at all. Their presence was making her nervous and distracted; she hadn’t been herself since their arrival, and she was growing more ambivalent about telling her father the truth about Robin Ainsley.

Initially he had said whatever decision she made about that was all right with him. But he had come to realize how much the truth really mattered. He felt it was important her father knew he was part Harte, as she herself was.

This train of thought dissipated as she came whirling through the revolving door, a smile illuminating her face when she saw him. He thought how pretty she looked in a loose, rather floaty frock made of pale-blue cotton. She had on very high-heeled blue sandals, which made her appear even more willowy; there were smokey-blue beads at her neck and on her ears and these echoed the colour of her large, wide-set eyes.

‘I’m not late, Gid, am I?’ she asked, her smile wide and warm.

He shook his head. ‘Early, in fact. But where are your parents?’

‘I told them to meet us here at one-fifteen. I just wanted a few minutes alone with you. I haven’t seen you since Thursday night and I’ve missed you.’

‘Me too, you.’ Taking her arm he went on, ‘Let’s go and sit over there on the sofa, shall we?’

‘I told Mom that we’d be in the Grill, so we might as well go in.’

After being seated at Gideon’s favourite table in a corner, he ordered a bottle of Veuve Clicquot and then sat back and looked at her, a smile on his face. ‘You look wonderful, Evan,’ he began, and then stopped abruptly. The smile slipped. ‘You’re not wearing your ring,’ he said, staring at her left hand.

She stared back at him, her face suddenly colouring a bright pink.

‘Evan, you haven’t told them, have you?’

‘Look, Gideon, please don’t be angry, but I just didn’t dare say anything on Friday night. I hadn’t seen them for months, and Dad was definitely in a peculiar mood, to say the least, and I didn’t want to hit them with that straight away. I wanted to wait until after they met you.’

‘Oh, and does that make a difference to you? What they think of me? Will you change your mind about me if they don’t approve?’

‘Don’t be silly, of course I won’t,’ she said in a low voice, leaning closer to him. ‘You know I love you, that I want to spend the rest of my life with you. But my father’s always been a bit…well, possessive of me, and he’s got to adjust to the fact that I’m not going home, that I’m going to be living in London. He’ll have to come to terms with that.’

‘Yes, he certainly will.’ His green eyes narrowed darkly.

‘Please try and see it from my point of view, Gideon. Please, darling.’

He sighed. ‘I suppose I understand…well, a little bit. And what about Robin? Have you told him about Robin Ainsley, have you told your father he’s actually a Harte, a member of the family he loves to hate?’

She bit her lip. ‘No, I haven’t. I just felt it was better, kinder, not to bring up all of this stuff when he’d just seen me for the first time in eight months. Mom was great, of course, and I had lunch with her yesterday. She knows how much I care for you. I know she’s expecting me to marry you, Gid, and she gives us her blessing. She said so.’

‘That’s good to know,’ he muttered, the tension in his shoulders relaxing. ‘I’m not being difficult, Evan, I simply want them to know about our engagement so that I can tell my parents before someone else does. After all, the cousins are in on our secret which of course isn’t one anymore.’

Always cued in to his moods, she was sorry his voice wasn’t calmer. ‘I promise I’ll tell them soon, and that I’ll talk to my father about Robin as well–’

The arrival of a waiter with the champagne interrupted this conversation, and once it had been poured and they had clinked glasses, taken a sip, she said, ‘I hope he understands about Glynnis and Robin…I hope he won’t be terribly upset.’

‘I suppose it will be a shock,’ Gideon murmured a little grudgingly, and then he deftly changed the subject when he started to talk about the newspapers he ran, and his plans for the next few months.

Gideon was surprised. Owen and Marietta Hughes were pleasant, and certainly her father didn’t seem to be quite the curmudgeon Evan had made him out to be.

Gideon had done a double-take when they had first arrived at the table and Evan was introducing them. Her father was the spitting image of Gideon’s great-uncle, Robin Ainsley, and it was something of a shock to see the strong family resemblance. It was much more pronounced in her father than it was in Evan. There was no doubt that Owen Hughes was actually a Harte. Tall, slender, good-looking, he had Robin’s aquiline features and dark hair flecked with grey. It took Gideon only a moment to recognize that he had a very strong likeness to his own great-grandfather, Winston Harte the first, the brother of Emma.

Her mother was a bit of a surprise, too. A pretty woman in a soft and feminine way, she looked very young, and there was no hint of the manic depressive about her. In fact, she was full of smiles and genial good humour. That was the medication kicking in, no doubt about that, Gideon decided.

After the waiter had served them champagne, and they had all toasted each other, there was a bit of small talk about the weather and such, which suddenly seemed endless to him.

Eventually Gideon managed to get all of that out of the way, and he said, ‘I had hoped to take you out to the Waterside Inn at Bray for lunch, but unfortunately, I’m working today. I have to get back to the papers fairly early, and it’s a bit of a drive there and back. But another time perhaps, I know how much you like the water and sailing, Mr Hughes.’

‘I do, yes,’ Owen Hughes said, ‘and it would’ve been great on a hot day like this. On the other hand, I’ve always had a soft spot for the Grill here at the Dorchester. My mother brought me here when I was a little boy.’

‘Did she really!’ Gideon exclaimed, and threw a pointed look at Evan, who glanced away, not wanting to have prolonged eye contact. Also, she was truly startled. She hadn’t known her father had come back to London as a child; what else didn’t she know, she wondered.

‘I came to England with her several times in the fifties,’ her father was telling Gideon, and Evan pricked up her ears alertly; her mother, who was staring at her intently, gave her a knowing look.

Evan ignored this, and said, ‘I was telling Gideon you were planning a trip to France, Dad, and he wondered if you were intending to go to the south at all?’

‘Probably. I’d like to take your mother to Monte Carlo, she’s never been there.’

‘It’s very built-up these days,’ Gideon murmured, ‘a pile of concrete, to be exact. But if you do go, perhaps Evan and I could join you for a couple of days.’

‘That’d be nice,’ Owen responded, in a voice so low it was almost inaudible. It was obvious he was taken aback by Gideon’s suggestion.

‘It would be absolutely lovely,’ Marietta jumped in, smiling hugely. ‘We haven’t had a vacation together for years, have we, Evan?’

‘No, Mom.’

‘I thought you couldn’t get away from work,’ her father said, his eyes on her.

‘I can’t, at least not when you’re planning to be in Paris, when you’re touring around, visiting Normandy and such. But later on I think I can swing a long weekend.’

‘Sounds good,’ her father answered in a clipped fashion.

Gideon said, ‘Shall we order? I’m not rushing you, but I do like to have a leisurely lunch on Sunday, don’t you, Mrs Hughes?’

‘I certainly do, Gideon, and please call me Marietta.’

‘I will, thank you very much.’

‘I know this is one of your favourite places, Gideon, Evan told me that. So what do you recommend?’ Marietta asked, looking at her daughter’s boyfriend, liking him a lot, liking his clean-cut good looks, his direct approach, his straightforwardness. She prayed Owen wouldn’t spoil things today by being grumpy and grudging with Evan, because she intuitively knew that these two were very much a couple, and that the relationship was extremely serious. But had Owen picked that up? She wasn’t sure.

Gideon, studying the menu, looked up and smiled at Marietta. ‘I tend to have the same things all the time,’ he explained. ‘Usually smoked salmon or potted shrimps, something like that to start with, and then I’m afraid I always fall for what’s on the trolley, either roast lamb or roast beef.’

‘And Yorkshire pudding,’ Evan interjected. ‘However, Gideon says there’s only one place where they make real Yorkshire pudding and that’s Yorkshire.’

Gideon laughed. ‘I’m prejudiced, I’m afraid, being a Yorkshireman born and bred. They do a sort of popover here and it’s very good, really it’s very good.’

‘I think I’ll have the roast beef,’ Evan said. ‘What about you, Mom? And Dad?’

‘The same,’ her mother answered.

Owen nodded. ‘That’s my choice, too, and I’ll start with the Morecambe Bay potted shrimps.’ Looking at Marietta he murmured, ‘Why don’t you try them, dear?’

‘Thanks, Owen, but I’d prefer the asparagus. Cold with vinaigrette.’

Once all of the orders had been taken, Gideon said, ‘Talking about Yorkshire pudding, I do hope you’ll come up to stay with my parents at Allington Hall, or perhaps at Pennistone Royal with my aunt, Paula O’Neill and her husband Shane. I know they’d love it.’ When there was no response from anyone, Gideon pressed on undeterred. ‘It’s such beautiful country, most especially the Dales where we all live. Have you ever been to Yorkshire?’

‘Yes, I have,’ Owen said without thinking, startling himself as well as everyone else. In order to cover his embarrassment at blurting this out, and wanting to cut off any further discussions about Yorkshire, he swiftly added, ‘I did quite a lot of touring around with my mother when I was a little boy. She wanted me to know her country. And so she took me up to Scotland, and also to Wales. She was Welsh, you know.’

‘So I’d heard,’ Gideon murmured, and gave Evan a sly look.

Evan ignored Gideon; she was almost afraid to look at him in case she began to laugh. So instead she said to her father, ‘Fancy that, Dad, you are secretive! You never told me you’d toured the length and breadth of Great Britain. Did he tell you, Mom?’

‘No, he didn’t,’ Marietta said, and she spoke the truth.

‘You’d like Pennistone Royal,’ Gideon went on, determined to catch Owen out if he could, to make him say something about the Hartes. ‘It’s a wonderful house, very old, and one of England’s great stately homes. But what you’d love about it, I think, is the furniture. My great-grandmother, Emma Harte, was an expert on Georgian furniture, and she collected it. I understand from Evan that you’re also an expert on this period.’

‘Yes, I am considered such,’ Owen said, afraid to say too much in case he let something slip that he shouldn’t.

During the first course, as she cut into her thinly-sliced smoked salmon, Evan looked first at her mother, then at her father, and said, ‘It would be nice if you could visit Yorkshire. We could have a weekend there together.’

‘I’m not sure,’ her father murmured in that very low voice again.

‘I think it would be wonderful,’ Marietta exclaimed, flashing a bright smile at Gideon and Evan who sat opposite her. ‘And you know, Owen, you could do a bit of business up there perhaps, go to a few antique shops. I’ve heard they’re very good. You might find some Georgian pieces.’

‘Oh yes, especially in Harrogate,’ Evan interjected. ‘Think about it, Dad.’

‘I will,’ he muttered and concentrated on his potted shrimps.

Halfway through the first course, Gideon asked, ‘Would anyone like wine? Since we’re all having the roast beef I think a full-bodied red would be excellent.’

‘Thank you,’ Marietta said, once more taking the lead, wanting to put this nice young man at ease.

Gideon motioned for the wine waiter, and after studying the wine list he finally ordered a Chateau Duhart-Milon, one of his father’s favourites. To Owen he explained, ‘Dad likes this wine very much, and I’m sure you will, Mr Hughes. It’s from the Domaines Barons de Rothschild, and it’s superb.’

Owen merely nodded. He had a sinking feeling that this young man, with his looks, magnetism, self-confidence and personal charm, had undoubtedly conquered his daughter. It made him sad that she was lost to him, and in a funny way he resented Gideon for being who and what he was: a Harte and a superior Harte at that. The chatting went on around him; he was lost in his morose thoughts.

It was towards the end of the lunch that Gideon suddenly lifted his glass and, looking at Owen and Marietta, he said slowly, ‘I would like you to join me in a toast to Evan.’

All three of them were startled, especially Evan, but they picked up their glasses and stared back at Gideon.

He said softly, in a loving voice, ‘Here’s to you, Evan, the most unique woman I’ve ever met, and my future wife.’

There was a stunned silence.

Gideon, fully aware that he had dropped a bombshell, glanced at Owen and Marietta and said, ‘One of the reasons I wanted to have lunch with you both today is to tell you that Evan and I are engaged. I do hope you approve.’

Owen, totally astonished, looked at Evan furiously, then cleared his throat several times. Finally he said in an uptight tone, ‘Why yes, if that’s what Evan wants.’

He scrutinized his daughter with a degree of intensity, and so did Gideon, turning to face her. Gideon noticed at once how pale her face had become, but otherwise her expression was unreadable.

Marietta, aware of the enormous discomfort between her husband and her daughter, jumped to the rescue yet again. ‘Congratulations to the two of you, Evan, Gideon! You have our blessing. We’re delighted for you.’ Disregarding her husband’s obvious anger and disgruntlement, the dark look on Owen’s face, she asked, ‘And when will you make it official?’

‘Why right now, Marietta,’ Gideon responded, and then turning once more to look at Evan, he said in a light, bland voice, ‘What a pity you’re not wearing your ring, darling.’

Swallowing, knowing that there was no use fighting him, she murmured, ‘Oh, but I have it with me, Gideon,’ and she fumbled in her handbag as she spoke.

A moment later it was gleaming on the third finger of her left hand, and being admired by her mother, who was duly impressed by the size of the sapphire and the surrounding diamonds. ‘It’s beautiful, Evan,’ she said. ‘You’re a very lucky girl.’

Done, Gideon thought with a spurt of satisfaction. And done in the best Harte style.

Gideon was just leaving his office for the late afternoon editorial meeting when his cell-phone began to shrill. Realizing he had forgotten to put it in his pocket, he rushed back to his desk and grabbed it. ‘Hello?’

‘It’s me,’ Evan said.

‘Hi, sweetheart, I can’t really talk now. I’m running late for the editorial meeting. The traffic was lousy from the Dorchester. Is it important?’

‘I think so. Gideon, how could you?’

‘How could I what?’ he asked mildly, although he knew exactly what she meant and he could tell she was annoyed.

‘Just announce it like that, so unexpectedly and so bluntly, that we were engaged. I’m really upset about the way you handled this.’

‘Well, you shouldn’t be. Your mother is thrilled and your father didn’t look all that unhappy. Anyway, be–’

‘He was really upset that I’d been what he called sneaky, that I hadn’t told him anything in advance. Actually, the afternoon fell apart and he went off in a snit.’

‘Really. What a sudden change of mood. He was actually very cordial with me when I left. In any case, it’s over and done with, so now let’s move on.’

‘It’s hard for me to do that. You didn’t even give me a hint you were going to pull this–’

‘I didn’t pull anything, Evan, I simply spoke the truth,’ he snapped, and then softening his voice, he added, ‘I think you must move on, darling, and push your father’s resentment to one side. Look, in a few days you should tell him about Robin Ainsley being his father, get that out of the way once and for all, as well. Wipe this slate clean, so there are no secrets, and I think we’ll all be the better for it.’

‘I can’t tell him about Robin now!’ she cried, her voice rising shrilly. ‘It’ll be all too much for him.’

‘I doubt it,’ Gideon said coldly. ‘I have to go, I’m late for the meeting. They can’t start without me. Talk to you later, darling.’ He clicked the phone off, slipped it in his pocket and left his office, wondering how a woman as bright and intelligent as Evan could be so wishy-washy and weak-kneed when it came to her father.

He couldn’t help wishing she’d behave like a true Harte. He wanted her to be bold and strong like his female cousins. But then she hadn’t been brought up a Harte, had she?

This unexpected and troubling thought did not hinder his rush to the editorial meeting. But later that night it did give him reason to pause, and ponder long and hard on his relationship with Evan Hughes.

Tessa stood in the entrance foyer of Niddersley Hall watching Great-Aunt Edwina walk slowly down the grand staircase. She wore a dress of purple silk, her favourite colour, a royal colour, very regal, and she looked both regal and royal, Tessa thought. Her silver hair was swept up in an elegant style, and as usual she was carefully made up and well turned out, looked twenty years younger than her age.

‘There you are, Tessa!’ she exclaimed as she glided towards her great-niece, who came to meet her. ‘You’re looking much better than I expected after all you’ve been through lately. Such an ordeal.’

‘Thank you, Great-Aunt Edwina, and you look fantastic!’ After kissing her aunt on the cheek, Tessa stepped back and eyeing Edwina she couldn’t help asking, ‘Are those pearls real?’

‘My dear girl, the whole world knows I never wear anything that’s artificial. Of course they’re real. I just bought them a few weeks ago. South Sea pearls, perfectly matched. I thought I’d give myself a treat, you see.’

Tessa and her aunt walked into the drawing room; a relatively small room, it was nevertheless elegant with a beautiful Adam fireplace and several tall windows which overlooked the garden.

‘Shall we sit over there,’ Tessa suggested, indicating an arrangement of chairs near an open window. It had been another hot day, and even though it was now early evening and the sun had set, it was still balmy; Tessa preferred to sit in a cool spot like this.

‘Certainly,’ Edwina answered, making her way to the chairs grouped around a low coffee table. ‘I told Frome to bring us champagne. Or do you prefer something else?’

‘That’s lovely, thank you.’ Tessa seated herself opposite her great-aunt, and said, ‘India will be here in a moment. I only had to come from the Harrogate store, she’s driving over from Leeds.’

‘Yes, she phoned me and said she’d be a bit late, but that’s all right, my dear, we can have a little chat while we wait. Ah, there you are, Frome,’ she continued as the butler came in carrying an ice bucket and bottle of champagne on a tray. ‘We’ll both have the champagne, thank you.’

‘Yes, m’lady,’ Frome answered, and within seconds he was carrying two crystal glasses on a tray across the room to them. They each took a flute and thanked him.

Edwina lifted her glass and, smiling at Tessa, she said, ‘Here’s to you, Tessa, and a sparkling future.’

Smiling back, Tessa clinked her glass to her aunt’s. ‘And to your sparkling future, too, Great-Aunt.’

Edwina burst out laughing. ‘Well said, little Tessa, well said. Thank you. I certainly don’t intend going anywhere just yet, so I’ll be around.’

‘Obviously,’ Tessa shot back, laughing with her. ‘When you buy yourself a string of pearls like those, you plan to wear them. I think it’s marvellous that you treated yourself, it shows a most positive attitude on your part.’

‘I suppose it does.’ After taking a sip of the champagne, Edwina settled herself against the needlepoint cushions in the French armchair, and went on, ‘Now what’s afoot with that ridiculous fool of a husband of yours? He’s got a few screws loose, in my considered opinion.’

‘He’s very difficult, Great-Aunt, and I agree with you, I think he is a bit off the wall, and–’

‘He must be to treat a wonderful girl like you so shabbily. I’m appalled at his behaviour towards you and extremely glad you’ve taken the steps you have to get a divorce,’ Edwina told her rather forcefully.

Tessa explained, ‘He’ll soon be my ex.’

‘Whatever it costs, just get rid of him. He’s caused you far too much heartache already. I’m a great believer in divorce, you know. It’s ridiculous for a couple to stay together if they’re making each other unhappy. I understand he wants a lot.’

Tessa nodded. ‘Yes, he does. Mummy’s going to get things moving along a bit quicker once she returns from New York next week.’

‘Well, as I said, just pay him off, get him out of the way.’ Edwina took a sip of champagne, and continued, ‘You know, Tessa, everybody has their price and it isn’t always money–’

‘As your mother always said,’ Tessa cut in. ‘I know Emma Harte’s credo, too.’

‘I’m glad to hear it. She was the most remarkable woman, a legend in her own time. You can’t go wrong, following her rules. Anyway, I was going to say that there are often other considerations, and several ways to skin a cat.’

‘Not with Mark, Great-Aunt Edwina, all he’s interested in is money.’

‘And a few other things, from what I’ve heard. Such as wine, women and song, to put it in a polite way.’

‘That’s true. But I don’t care about him anymore. I just want him out of my life.’

‘It was rather foolhardy of him to kidnap Adele in that way, asking for trouble.’

‘It hasn’t done him any good in the eyes of my lawyers–or his own, I might add.’

‘I’m sure not.’ There was a small pause. Edwina stared at Tessa intently and finally said in a kindly voice, ‘I hope he hasn’t made you afraid to have another relationship with a man, Tessa. You’re young, a very beautiful woman, so you must get over this hurdle as quickly as possible, put it behind you. You must find a way to quell your fears about him taking Adele again, and move on to greener fields.’

‘How did you know I fear that?’ Tessa asked, studying the older woman, thinking how extraordinary she was for her age. A handsome woman, beautifully dressed and groomed, obviously completely competent and with all of her faculties intact.

‘Because it would be natural for any mother to fear another kidnapping when she’s dealing with a fool like Mark Longden. But I doubt he’ll do it again, once he’s been paid off by Paula.’

‘I do hope you’re right.’

At this moment India came hurrying into the drawing room, looking flushed and a little out of breath. ‘Sorry, Grandma, but the traffic from Leeds was quite impossible tonight.’

‘We’re not going anywhere,’ Edwina murmured, and lifted her face to be kissed. ‘Now relax, India dear,’ Edwina continued, ‘and pour yourself a glass of champagne, it’ll be quicker than if we ring for Frome. He’s getting a bit old.’

India laughed hilariously. ‘Grandma, he’s all of fifty if he’s a day! Much younger than you.’

‘Maybe, but he’s a bit of a slowcoach. I’m a lot more sprightly, fast on my feet. Do you prefer something else? Other than a drop of bubbly?’

‘Champagne’s great, thanks,’ India told her and walked over to the chest where the drinks tray stood and poured herself a glass, still laughing. Her grandmother was a hoot: outspoken, blunt to the point of rudeness at times, and something of a character, a true eccentric, in fact. But she was very special, unique, and India adored her. Her father always said they’d thrown the mould away after making his mother.

Returning to the group of chairs, India sat down next to Tessa, lifted her glass, said, ‘Cheers,’ and took a sip. Then she leaned forward and said to her grandmother, ‘Who told you about Russell Rhodes, about my involvement with him, and the stabbing, Grandma?’

‘As a matter of fact it was someone who works at Harrogate District Hospital, India, but I did promise to keep a confidence and so I must, my dear.’

India was taken aback and she exclaimed, ‘So it wasn’t anyone in the family?’

‘Not at all. I haven’t spoken to Robin or Elizabeth for weeks, and you younger lot don’t bother too much with me these days.’

‘Oh, Grandma, don’t say that, it makes me feel awful.’

‘Well, it shouldn’t, because I don’t mind really, except for you and Tessa, India. You two are my best girls, part Fairley like I am, and I do miss hearing from you both. I feel left out of your lives.’

India looked at Tessa, knowing her cousin felt as guilty as she did.

Before India could say anything, Edwina went on, ‘I know he’s recovered and that he’s going home to Willows Hall tomorrow. Perhaps later this week, if he’s up to it, you’ll bring Dusty here to meet me. Lunch, tea or dinner, whichever you prefer, my dear.’

‘I’ll try for dinner, Grandmother, but he’s not an easy man.’

‘Do your best. I know I bluster a lot, and boast that I’m not going anywhere, but you never know what can happen. Life has a funny way of coming and hitting you in the face when you least expect it.’

‘Don’t say that!’ India cried. ‘You’ll be here for a long time yet.’

‘Let’s hope so. Now, do you love this man enough to want to spend the rest of your life with him?’ Edwina asked briskly.

India nodded and opened her mouth to say something but changed her mind and sat very still in the chair, staring at her grandmother silently.

Edwina nodded. ‘Not sure about his intentions, eh?’

‘You’re right as usual, Grandmother,’ India admitted ruefully.

‘If you want him then it’s up to you to get him! That’s the way it always is, most men can’t make up their minds about women, or about a long-term commitment. Anyway, my dear, if you love him then I trust your judgement. I know he must be a decent man, a man of honour, if you have set your sights on him.’

‘Yes, he is. At least, I believe he is.’

‘Now…one of the reasons I wanted to see you, invited you to dinner, is to give you both a gift.’ Pushing herself to her feet, Edwina added, ‘Follow me, girls,’ and marched forward purposefully towards the hall. She crossed it in the same majestic way and went into the library; India and Tessa, both somewhat mystified, followed behind her, exchanging baffled glances.

Taking a key out of her pocket, Edwina sat down behind the huge Georgian partners’ desk in front of the bay window and unlocked one of the drawers.

‘Don’t stand around like that, like a couple of clucking ducks,’ she instructed sharply. ‘Sit down both of you. On the sofa.’

They did as she asked without uttering a word; they knew it was wise to remain silent, to leave the floor to the Dowager Countess of Dunvale, who obviously was in cracking form tonight.

A moment or two later, after taking various items out of the drawer, Edwina beckoned to India and Tessa. ‘Come and help me to carry these things to the coffee table,’ she said, rising, picking up one of the items herself.

The two young women joined her and helped to bring them over to the coffee table, and then they all three of them sat down. Edwina was quite certain her granddaughter and great-niece were riddled with curiosity, and she smiled to herself, thinking of the shock they were in for.

Well, it’s a nice shock, she said under her breath, knowing she would enjoy these next few moments. This pleased her, since she hadn’t enjoyed much lately, in actuality; she had been troubled and disconcerted when she had heard about the abduction of Adele, and, so soon after that, the stabbing of Russell Rhodes, who happened to be her favourite living painter.

Her lovely girls had been at the receiving end of some bad goings on, much to her dismay. She loved them both very much and was exceedingly protective of them; now she wanted to show them her love in a very real way.

Sitting up a little straighter in the chair, Edwina ran her hands over her knees, smoothing the purple silk dress. And then she looked at Tessa.

Slowly, Edwina said, ‘You are a few years older than India and therefore I shall talk to you first. Your great-grandmother, Emma Harte, was the most extraordinary woman, and everything you are, everything you have in this world, you truly owe to her, to her brilliance as a businesswoman and entrepreneur, to her doggedness, stamina, hard work, and determination to succeed. And her foresight, of course. You must never forget that, Tessa. Well, let me proceed on another matter…many, many years ago my mother gave me a gift. She knew it would be very meaningful to me because I thought of myself as a fully-fledged Fairley, rather than an illegitimate one, which I was. I was also a Harte, but I was a bit of a snob in those days, and liked to think of myself as an aristocratic Fairley, as if such a thing really matters in the long run. Who cares these days?’

Edwina glanced at the items on the coffee table, let out a long sigh, as if remembering something from long ago, and then continued softly: ‘The gift my mother gave me many years ago was for Christmas. She knew its meaning would not be lost on me, because it had once belonged to my grandmother Adele Fairley.’

Reaching for one of the items, an extremely old black leather case of a circular shape, Edwina opened it and then placed it on the coffee table again.

Both Tessa and India gasped, then leaned forward to get a better look.

Placed on the black velvet inside the worn leather box was the most beautiful diamond necklace either of them had ever seen. It was in a lacey pattern, fell almost like a bib, and was composed of hundreds of diamonds. It was full of bright white fire, glittering in the lamplight, and it was a magnificent thing to behold.

Both young women looked up at Edwina, who was scrutinizing them in the most thoughtful way. It was India who spoke first, when she said, ‘It’s simply gorgeous, Grandma, but how did Emma come by it, if it belonged to Adele Fairley?’

‘Many years before my mother actually gave the necklace to me, she had bought it at an auction of Adele’s jewellery in London. In fact, she bought the entire collection of Adele’s jewels.’

‘Why was it being sold at auction?’ India wondered aloud.

‘Because Gerald Fairley needed money to keep his businesses running, and he had inherited his mother’s jewellery collection from his father.’

‘So Gerald put it up for sale and Emma bought it,’ Tessa murmured.

‘Yes. I think she saw the irony of it all, as only she could. This necklace,’ Edwina indicated it with a finger, ‘was Adele’s favourite, and when Emma was a little servant girl at Fairley Hall she used to fasten the necklace around her mistress’s neck. Years later, she was the owner. What an ironic reversal, eh girls?’

‘Yes, indeed,’ India said. ‘And did Emma enjoy wearing it, too?’

‘Oh, she never wore it. Oddly enough, it was never worn by anybody after Adele, until my mother gave it to me. I wore it a few times, and now, Tessa, I am giving it to you.’

‘Oh, Great-Aunt Edwina, I can’t take it! The necklace should go to India, she’s your granddaughter. Thank you, but–’

‘No thank you, is that what you’re saying?’ Edwina asked.

‘Absolutely.’

‘No, Tessa!’ India exclaimed. ‘Grandmother should do as she wishes, and she wants you to have it.’ Looking at Edwina she added in the most genuine way, ‘You must do what you want.’

‘There’s a real reason why Tessa should have it,’ Edwina replied, looking from India to Tessa. ‘Jim Fairley was a legitimate Fairley, grandson of Edwin, and he was your father, Tess. I think Adele’s necklace should therefore be yours. And there’s another reason…Your mother was very close to Emma. Since Emma ultimately owned the necklace, she might easily have given it to Paula one day, rather than to me.’

‘But I–’

Edwina held up her hand. ‘Please don’t argue with me, Tessa dear. This is my gift to you, because of who you are, a true Fairley through your father. But you must never forget that you are also a Harte, Tessa. Never. I did once and I lived to regret it. I love you, and it’s yours.’

‘Thank you,’ Tessa said a little tremulously, her eyes filling up. She tried to swallow but her throat suddenly ached and she flicked the tears from her lashes, feeling unexpectedly emotional.

‘Now to you, my beauty,’ Edwina went on, looking over at her granddaughter. ‘The rest of the jewellery in those old boxes belonged to Adele, too, it’s the collection Emma bought at that auction long ago, and she left everything to me in her will. You can choose anything you want, India, but I thought you might like this.’ Bending over the coffee table, Edwina picked up a tall red-leather case and opened it.

Again the two young women gasped in surprise and stared at each other and then at the old dowager countess.

‘It’s for me, Grandma?’ India whispered, her eyes wide, full of astonishment.

‘If you want it, my dear.’

India was silent. She simply bent over the coffee table and picked up the choker. It was made entirely of pearls and it was very wide, in the Edwardian style. At its centre was a huge sapphire surrounded by five rows of large rose-cut diamonds; the whole centrepiece was oval in shape, and, like the diamond necklace, it was a truly magnificent piece.

‘I thought it would suit you, India, since you have a long, swanlike neck. There’s another box there, containing the matching sapphire earrings. Oh, and Tessa, there are diamond drop earrings to match your necklace. Now why don’t you rummage among the smaller cases and find them.’ Edwina sat back, smiling.

‘Is this really for me, Grandma?’ India asked, her voice quavering ever so slightly. She was awed by the choker.

‘It is, my darling, because I love you very much. You, too, are a Fairley through me, and you should also have something that belonged to your great-great-grandmother.’

‘Thank you, thank you so much,’ India said, and putting the necklace down in its box she went to her grandmother and embraced her, her eyes damp, so touched was she.

Tessa followed her, and kissed her aunt, and then Edwina began to laugh, delighted to witness their shock, their pleasure, and their obvious gratitude. ‘There’s a mirror over there. Why don’t you girls try them on?’

India, who was wearing a black dress with a scooped-out neckline, found that the choker went on easily, and she turned and said to her grandmother, ‘How does it look? It’s so beautiful, isn’t it?’

‘It suits you perfectly, India. I was absolutely right, choosing it for you. Come here, let me look at you properly.’

Hurrying over, India stood in front of Edwina, who nodded her approval. ‘It’s absolutely perfect on that long neck of yours, my dear.’

‘Thank you again, Grandmother, it’s so generous of you.’

‘I’m having trouble with this necklace,’ Tessa said, over her shoulder. ‘It doesn’t seem to fall properly.’

India ran across the room, and unzipped the back of Tessa’s white dress. ‘Slide the dress down a little bit, off your shoulders, then the necklace should sit properly.’ Tessa did as her cousin told her, and then went to show Edwina.

‘What do you think, Great-Aunt Edwina? Does it suit me?’

Edwina nodded, and unexpectedly her eyes welled. ‘Why, the two of you suddenly look like beautiful ethereal beings from another age, a long age ago, and you know something, you both look more like Adele than ever. It’s your blonde hair and silvery eyes…’ Edwina groped in her pocket for a handkerchief and blew her nose. Recouping quickly, she said in a more businesslike tone, ‘The jewellery is my legacy to the two of you, and the rest of Adele’s collection I will give to your mother, India, and to Paula.’

Now Edwina stood up. ‘Let’s go in for supper,’ she said in a quiet voice. ‘I think I’m really quite hungry.’

‘Yes, let’s do that, Grandmother,’ India agreed, ‘but perhaps we ought to lock the other leather cases away, don’t you think?’

‘Good idea,’ Tessa said, taking off the diamond bib, placing it in the box and then fastening her dress. She suddenly threw a pointed look at India, and turned to Edwina, ‘Don’t you have a safe here, Great-Aunt?’

‘You don’t think I keep all of this priceless stuff lying around, do you, you silly girl? Jack Figg would have my guts for garters, if I did.’

Tessa and India burst out laughing at the same time, and India asked, ‘So who sent Jack to see you?’

‘Gideon Harte. Who else? He’s got a soft spot for me. And Jack was very pleased to see I had three safes. One for documents, one for jewellery and one for the silver. He was most impressed.’

‘I bet he was,’ Tessa laughed.

‘Oh, Grandma, you’re such a scream.’ As she spoke India began to carry the cases over to the desk, and Tessa helped.

Edwina watched them, her face glowing with pleasure.